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Year 2

Miss Davies (Class Teacher)

Mrs MacFarlane and Mrs Gourlay (Support Staff)

Autumn 2024

The Year 2 class started the year with a fantastic attitude.  Everyone joined the year with a positive outlook, excited about all the fun things we will be learning this year.

In English, we have been retelling traditional stories with a twist.  The children began by retelling the story of Rapunzel, before choosing their own tales to retell.  Later this term we will be writing historical recounts, inspired by our work on the Great Fire of London and explanations of life cycles, inspired by our work in Science.

In Maths, the children have been working very hard to understand place value.  We have been using lots of different resources to partition, compare and order different numbers.  We really enjoyed finding all of the patterns in our 2, 5, 10 and 3 times tables.  Later this term, we will be exploring addition and subtraction, identifying fact families by using inverse.

In Science, we have been exploring materials.  The children have been able to identify the properties of different materials and determine their suitability for different purposes.  They particularly enjoyed taking on the role of Charles Macintosh, testing the absorbency of different materials to determine which would be best to make a raincoat from.  Later in the term, we will be learning all about animals including humans.  Exploring life cycles and the things all animals need to survive.

In History, we have been learning all about the Great Fire of London.  The children have been able to retell the events and explore the causes of the fire.  They have also been able to use a variety of sources including pictures, diaries and artefacts to identify similarities and differences between the 17th and 21st century.  Later in the term, we will be building on this knowledge, exploring modern day London in our Geography topic.  We will use maps and aerial images to identify the location of our capital city and lots of its famous landmarks.

In RE, we have been learning all about Christianity, specifically kindness.  The children have been exploring whether it is possible to be kind to everyone all of the time.  We’ve been reading stories from the Bible to discuss how Christians believe Jesus showed kindness.  Later this term, we will be exploring the Christmas story and why this is an important time of year for Christians.

In Art, we have been exploring the work of Vincent Van Gogh.  We have explored his work, completing our own studies and discussing how his work makes us feel.  The children have particularly enjoyed using lots of swirly movements to capture the feel of A Starry Night.  We even got to make our own paint, just like Van Gogh would have done!  In our DT topic, we will be looking at puppets, designing and making a puppet for someone special.

In PE, we have been learning all about ball skills.  We’ve been practising rolling, throwing, kicking and passing.  Before playing small games to develop these skills further.  Later in the term, we will be exploring movements and patterns in dance.

In PSHE, we have been thinking all about our new year group and all of the ways we can work together to make our classroom a supportive learning environment.  Later in the term, we will be thinking about difference and how we can accept and celebrate everyone for who they are.

Finally, to end the term, Year 2 will be putting on the Manland Nativity, along with Year 1 and Reception.  We’re really excited to get started on learning all of our songs and lines after Half Term.  We can’t wait to show everyone in December!

Summer 2024

Year 2 have a very busy term ahead, with lots of engaging projects.

In English, the children have been writing their own quest stories.  They loved coming up with the challenges their characters could face on their journeys.  They have also been exploring poetry, The Eagle by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  After half term, Year 2 will be exploring the work of Anthony Browne as well as explaining the life cycle of plants.
 
In Maths, Year 2 have been building on their knowledge of fractions.  They have enjoyed learning to tell the time and have been working very hard to tell the time to 5 minutes.  They will be interpreting and recording data as well as exploring position and direction later in the term.
 
In Science, we have continued our unit on plants.  The class have been exploring the different conditions plants need to grow.  They have conducted an experiment to find which are the most important – make sure to have a look at the plants growing in our garden window!  After half term, the children will be building on their knowledge of animals, exploring living things and their habitats.
 
In History, Year 2 have been learning all about significant British monarchs.  They have explored how the role of a monarch has changed over three different historical periods as well as how life has changed during these times.  After half term, we will be moving onto Geography and comparing the physical and human geography of Cairo to that of London.
 
In RE, we have been learning all about the Easter story and Christian beliefs about this.  The children have been able to retell the story, choose significant events and explain their meanings and interpretations.  After half term, we will be revisiting Islam and finding out about the importance of the Qur’an to Muslims.
 
In PE, Year 2 have been developing and practising their cricket skills.  They have enjoyed exploring all of the different roles to play in the game.  After half term they will be practising different athletic disciplines, ready for sports day.
 
In Computing, the children have been working in groups to develop and make their own stop motion animations. It was tricky to make the tiny movements, but because of their hard work and focus, every animation looks fantastic!  After half term, they will take on the role of zoologists by recording and presenting data.
 

In PSHE, Year 2 have been exploring the relationships they have with people at home, school and out of school.  They have explored the positive behaviour they can show towards each other and the people they can trust if they have worries.  After half term, the children will be exploring changes, as they prepare for Year 3.

Spring 2024

Year 2 returned after Christmas and their fantastic Nativity performance ready to begin lots of interesting new topics.

In English, the children have been exploring non-chronological reports, researching, writing and illustrating their own reports all about sharks.  We will then be looking at poetry.  Exploring a wide range of creative and descriptive vocabulary that we will use to wrote our own innovative poems.  Later in the term, we will be revisiting recounts – writing diary entries, and instruction writing.

In Maths, Year 2 have been learning all about money.  They have been applying their knowledge of addition and subtraction to solve problems including giving change.  We will then be focusing on multiplication and division (the children have been working very hard learning their 2 times table facts) and measurements, including length, mass and temperature.

In Science, Year 2 have continued their work on Animals Including Humans, where they have been exploring how to stay healthy.  They have conducted their own investigations including looking at how exercise effects their heart rate and how best to keep their hands clean.  Later in the term they will be exploring the life cycles and growth of plants, including what they need to grow.

In History, we have been learning about how communication has changed throughout history.  From Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, all the way up to the invention of the World Wide Web.  The children have really enjoyed having a go at communicating with each other using the different writing systems and codes.  Year 2 are particularly looking forward to their trip to Bletchley park, where they will be exploring Morse code and the important work that took place on the site during WWII.  In Geography, Year 2 will be exploring weather, investigating how it changes with the seasons.  They will conduct their own investigations into the weather experienced on our school site.

In Art, we have been exploring ‘Expressive Painting’.  In this unit we have been looking at the work of lots of different artists and using their techniques to create our own landscapes.  The children have really enjoyed the freedom they have had to paint in a way that expresses their own thoughts and feelings.  In DT we will be focusing on cooking, testing, making and evaluating pizzas.  The children are really excited to make their own pizzas at the end of term.

In RE, we have been exploring the Islamic religious world view.  We have been learning about why Allah is important to Muslims and how they show him respect.

In PSHE, Year 2 have been exploring their Dreams and Goals.  They have been exploring their aspirations for the future and how they can achieve these goals.  Later in the term, they will be exploring how they can work to live a healthy and happy life.

In Music, we have been exploring our personal and emotional responses to music and how we can use music to tell a story.

In PE, the children have been developing their skills working individually and in teams, through gymnastics and invasion games.

We look forward to welcoming family and friends to Manland, showing all the hard work Year 2 have been doing this term, in our class assembly.

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